Nose
It is a very dark wine with a brooding nose of dust, mint, bay leaf, and black fruits. The wine has signature Leonetti integrated oak, and harmonious, high-toned fruit.
Palate
This wine is rich, with excellent acid balance typical of the vintage, and ends with a long finish.
Growing Conditions
1999 is fast becoming remembered as the “miracle vintage”. The year began very cool and stayed that way through July, putting us well behind in ripening going into August and finding us dramatically hand thinning clusters to ensure what grapes remained ripened fully. August saw the sun come out and the mercury rise, and it stayed that way well into October.
Aging
This wine was aged in a mix of new French, Hungarian, American oak barrels for fifteen months.
Our Merlot is made to age for 15 - 25 years in your cellar. Of course, there are some vintage-to-vintage variations to this recommendation. Wine should be stored horizontally at 55 - 57 degrees.
